Kiln Technician, Thermal Hardware (Starship)

Responsibilities

• Operate kilns and supporting equipment (conveyors, transport system, loaders, atmosphere controls, burners, etc) daily following standard work instructions and safety protocols
• Perform routine monitoring of kiln parameters including temperature zones, atmosphere, pressure, and cycle times; log data accurately and report deviations immediately
• Conduct daily walk-downs, visual inspections, and basic cleaning/lubrication of kiln components such as heating elements, seals, belts, rollers, and sensors
• Execute scheduled preventive maintenance (PM), calibration checks, minor part replacements, and tool/fixture preparation
• Actively work on transportation systems, motors, alignment, and mechanical work required to keep the system healthy
• Troubleshoot and resolve basic operational issues (e.g., alarms, uneven heating, conveyor jams) using established procedures and escalate complex problems to the Specialist or Engineer
• Champion proper use of maintenance tickets by documenting issues clearly and completing assigned corrective actions promptly
• Assist with kiln changeovers, setup, and recovery from stops or crashes by following detailed recovery instructions
• Support production quality investigations by providing detailed observations from daily operations and assisting with containment or rework as directed
• Maintain a clean and organized work area; ensure tools, PPE, and spare parts are properly stored and available for immediate use
• Participate in team huddles, report daily equipment status, and contribute basic improvement ideas based on hands-on experience
• Follow all safety protocols including lock-out/tag-out, hot work permits, and proper material handling for high-temperature environments

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate
• 2+ years of hands-on experience in manufacturing, maintenance, or operations
• Demonstrated mechanical aptitude and comfort working with tools, machinery, and basic troubleshooting
• Direct experience operating or maintaining kilns, dryers, or high-temperature industrial equipment in ceramics, aerospace materials, or high-volume manufacturing
• Familiarity with reading gauges, interpreting alarms/trends, and using basic HMI interfaces
• Understanding of preventive maintenance principles, spare parts management, and 5S/Lean workplace practices
• Experience with safety systems, PPE usage, and working in hot or physically demanding environments
• Knowledge of basic quality tools (root cause basics, following control plans, documenting nonconformances)
• Prior exposure to processes such as CNC support, material handling, assembly, or thermal processing of composites/ceramics
• Strong team player with good communication skills and reliability in shift-based work